Tag: primary elections
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Understanding primaries – State primary laws and types, explained
State laws governing primaries can be confusing. In some states, political parties control their primaries, including whether to hold a primary at all. Elsewhere, primaries are mandatory. Lawmakers and voters also frequently amend primary rules, whether making minor changes or significant ones. To understand the procedures governing primary elections, a voter needs to understand what…
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A closer look at 2025's three defeated state legislative incumbents
The three incumbents defeated in 2025 state legislative primaries were all first-term Democrats in the New Jersey General Assembly. Here’s a closer look at the incumbents who lost and what they shared in common. The trio all first took office in 2024. They represented 1.7% of incumbents who ran for re-election and 7.9% of incumbents…
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Democrats to hold firehouse primary for Virginia's 11th Congressional District June 28
On June 3, 2025, Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) called a special election for Virginia's 11th Congressional District to be held Sept. 9, 2025. Incumbent Gerald Connolly (D) died on May 21, 2025. Virginia law requires political parties to nominate their candidates 60 days before special elections, in this case by July 11. The 11th Congressional…
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Incumbent Edward Gainey (D) and Corey O'Connor (D) are running in the Democratic primary for mayor of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on May 20, 2025
Incumbent Edward Gainey (D) and Corey O'Connor (D) are running in the Democratic primary for mayor of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on May 20, 2025. A Democrat has held the mayor's office since 1934. PennLive's J.D. Prose wrote, "With Pittsburgh remaining a solidly blue enclave in purple Allegheny County, the party’s primary race winner will be considered…
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State legislative primaries were most competitive in 2022 out of past four election cycles
Primaries for state legislative incumbents in states with trifectas have become more competitive since 2016. A trifecta happens when one political party holds the governorship and majorities in both chambers of the state legislature. In 2016, the percentage of state legislative incumbents facing a primary challenger was 20.6%. In 2018, it was 21.9%, and in…
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Buffalo City Council primary sees most challenges since 2007
Five of the nine Buffalo City Council seats saw Democratic primary challenges on June 27, 2023, the highest rate since 2007 when there were also five challenges. In 2019, the previous election for city council seats, four seats saw challenges. In 2015, only two were challenged. In the three 2023 city council primary races in…
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Odd-year open seat rate currently at a decade-high with further increases likely
The percentage of open seats in state executive and legislative elections is at a decade-high 22% compared to all odd-year election cycles since 2011. And it’s almost definitely going to get even higher. The 2023 rate is around one percentage point higher than the recent peak in 2019 (21%) and about six percentage points higher…
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Two losing candidates for New Jersey General Assembly fundraise over $100,000
Primary elections in the New Jersey General Assembly took place on June 6, 2023. General elections for all 80 seats in the assembly will take place on Nov. 7, 2023. Democrats hold a 46-34 majority heading into the election. This article details the three to five candidates in each party who led in fundraising by…